The Seven Generations Charter School in Emmaus says teachers and staff will report back to school Monday, Dec. 12, and students the following day following a mold investigation at the school building at 154 East Minor Street.

The school issued a press release today saying that tests this week revealed airborne Penicillium/Aspergillus mold in five classrooms along the back wall of the school. It also was found in the basement of the building, an area not leased by the school.

The school, which has about 300 students, has been closed since Wednesday. The administration and board anticipates that remediation work will be completed by Monday. Testing will be done to confirm that every classroom is safe.

Aspergillus and penicillium are very common in the environment, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is found in soil, on plants and in decaying plant matter. It is also found in household dust, building materials, and even in spices and some food items.

The CDC says that indoor mold exposure does not always present health problems. However, it says people sensitive to molds can experience nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation when exposed to mold. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.

The school says mold remediation will take place over the next several days by RestoreCore, which it says is a "highly regarded restoration and mold remediation firm."

"Once the remediation is completed, a post-remediation verification will take place," the release says.

The school says its Board of Trustees is developing alternative plans for students. Those plans will be announced once they're put in place.

Mold was discovered in the school earlier this week. Because preliminary testing did not provide conclusive information, the school ordered more comprehensive tests throughout the building.

"With an abundance of caution and putting their primary concern for the safety an staff first, Seven Generations' Board of Trustees and administration closed the school for the remainder of the week.

A spokeswoman for the school said there are no statutory regulations for mold remediation in the state. She said Hillman Consulting, an environmental consulting firm, has been retained to develop protocols for the cleanup that comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings guidelines.